Will a nearly-expired passport give me trouble traveling in Japan and Singapore?
August 7, 2010 12:55 PM Subscribe
I'm traveling to Japan and Singapore soon, returning to the US on October 1, 2010. My passport expires April 11, 2011. Singapore's entry requirements state that the passport must be valid for at least six more months. Do I need to renew before I go?
Japanese entry requirements state that my passport must be valid at least the length of my stay (2 weeks), assuming I'm reading the right page.
Singaporean requirements state "six more months." I presume this is calculated from the date of entry (Sep 17). However, if it's calculated from the day of return (Sep 23), 6 more months appears to be March 23, 2011. If I'm mistaken about the Japanese requirement and they also want six more months, then that's around April 3, 2011, very near the stated expiration date. Is this cutting it too close?
I'm also not sure exactly what "six more months" means. Are we assuming 30-day months, or an actual month calculation between two dates?
If I have to renew it now, I'd need to pay for expedited processing, so I don't want to renew it "just to be on the safe side."
Japanese entry requirements state that my passport must be valid at least the length of my stay (2 weeks), assuming I'm reading the right page.
Singaporean requirements state "six more months." I presume this is calculated from the date of entry (Sep 17). However, if it's calculated from the day of return (Sep 23), 6 more months appears to be March 23, 2011. If I'm mistaken about the Japanese requirement and they also want six more months, then that's around April 3, 2011, very near the stated expiration date. Is this cutting it too close?
I'm also not sure exactly what "six more months" means. Are we assuming 30-day months, or an actual month calculation between two dates?
If I have to renew it now, I'd need to pay for expedited processing, so I don't want to renew it "just to be on the safe side."
Response by poster: I agree, it seems like this should all be fine, but there may be some technicalities I'm not aware of. Also, would I be subject to more scrutiny at the borders?
I can also envision weird ways of calculating the dates that would cause problems for me, but I'm probably just being paranoid.
posted by Maximian at 1:22 PM on August 7, 2010
I can also envision weird ways of calculating the dates that would cause problems for me, but I'm probably just being paranoid.
posted by Maximian at 1:22 PM on August 7, 2010
If you choose not to renew, have a copy of your itinerary to hand (like, the e-ticket receipt/confirmation/e-mail thing the airline sends you) at Singaporean immigration if they ask, to prove that you're leaving. That's probably all they really care about - I mean, they have candy dishes on the podium! I even got a restaurant recommendation once.
posted by mdonley at 1:29 PM on August 7, 2010
posted by mdonley at 1:29 PM on August 7, 2010
I don't know about Singapore specifically, but "six more months" sometimes means "six months after your visa expires." This is usually the case if, for example, you're entering on a work visa. Assuming you're entering as a tourist, I'd be surprised if this was an issue in your case. Carry a copy of your tickets as proof that you're leaving the country when you intend to.
posted by smorange at 1:54 PM on August 7, 2010
posted by smorange at 1:54 PM on August 7, 2010
Best answer: Since the airlines have to pay hefty fines if you arrive in a country without proper documentation, it's often the case that airlines are far more anal about persnickety passport/visa rules than the government immigration officers themselves.
When you present yourself at the airline check-in counter, you can be sure that the airline agent will know that Singapore requires 6 months of passport validity, and that he/she will check to make sure you are in compliance. If the airline determines you don't have the required documentation, they will deny you boarding -- you'll never even get to plead your case to a Singaporean immigration officer.
Having said that, you appear to be in full compliance with even the strictest interpretation of the passport expiration rule, so you should have no problem.
posted by Dimpy at 2:08 PM on August 7, 2010
When you present yourself at the airline check-in counter, you can be sure that the airline agent will know that Singapore requires 6 months of passport validity, and that he/she will check to make sure you are in compliance. If the airline determines you don't have the required documentation, they will deny you boarding -- you'll never even get to plead your case to a Singaporean immigration officer.
Having said that, you appear to be in full compliance with even the strictest interpretation of the passport expiration rule, so you should have no problem.
posted by Dimpy at 2:08 PM on August 7, 2010
When you present yourself at the airline check-in counter, you can be sure that the airline agent will know that Singapore requires 6 months of passport validity, and that he/she will check to make sure you are in compliance
This doesn't follow.
Most ticket agents don't know these rules. They're not the ones who incur any fines; their employers do.
If you're concerned about this issue, renew your passport now. Dead simple to do.
posted by dfriedman at 2:26 PM on August 7, 2010
Most ticket agents don't know these rules. They're not the ones who incur any fines; their employers do.
That's why their employers give the agents access to Timatic data and expect them to use it. There's no shortage of stories where ticket agents denied boarding because of the 6-month rule.
posted by Dimpy at 3:01 PM on August 7, 2010
That's why their employers give the agents access to Timatic data and expect them to use it. There's no shortage of stories where ticket agents denied boarding because of the 6-month rule.
posted by Dimpy at 3:01 PM on August 7, 2010
Best answer: dfriedman, ticket agents can check something called TimaticWeb to see the restrictions that may be in place for the holder of any passport to go anywhere else. Lots of airlines have the info on their sites - here's what a ticket agent might see for this person. I used the Kenya Airways page here.
posted by mdonley at 3:06 PM on August 7, 2010
posted by mdonley at 3:06 PM on August 7, 2010
Best answer: According to the consulate website, it's six months from your intended date of departure from Singapore. Months are usually calculated on a "calendar month" basis (i.e. you should leave Singapore before 10 October), but even if they were to use a 180-day block to compute, you're fine as long as you leave Singapore before 12 October.
I wouldn't be worried about it, but you can try contacting the Singapore consulate/embassy in the US to confirm if you like.
posted by hellopanda at 3:43 PM on August 7, 2010
I wouldn't be worried about it, but you can try contacting the Singapore consulate/embassy in the US to confirm if you like.
posted by hellopanda at 3:43 PM on August 7, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for the info and reassurance. Contacting the embassy is an obvious solution I somehow overlooked, too. I may do that, if only for my peace of mind. Doesn't look like I need to renew right away.
In the forum thread Dimpy posted, someone (a Canadian?) talks about nearly being denied boarding for a flight to Singapore due to lack of a visa, even though Singapore doesn't require visas for that nationality. Gotta be ready to ask for the supervisor, I guess.
posted by Maximian at 7:29 PM on August 7, 2010
In the forum thread Dimpy posted, someone (a Canadian?) talks about nearly being denied boarding for a flight to Singapore due to lack of a visa, even though Singapore doesn't require visas for that nationality. Gotta be ready to ask for the supervisor, I guess.
posted by Maximian at 7:29 PM on August 7, 2010
Incidentally, if you renew a US passport early, the new passport is good for 10 years from the renewal date. You do not get "credit" for any unused time on the old passport.
posted by monotreme at 7:52 PM on August 7, 2010
posted by monotreme at 7:52 PM on August 7, 2010
dx7: MeFi wiki for "Plate of Beans":
MetaFilter users like to think about things. Sometimes a little too much. During an intense discussion of the arguably trivial Alanis Morrisette cover of "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas, user solistrato pointed this out when he said HI I'M ON METAFILTER AND I COULD OVERTHINK A PLATE OF BEANS.posted by hellopanda at 9:01 AM on August 8, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by brianogilvie at 1:00 PM on August 7, 2010